How to start listening to genres out of your comfort zone
I’m a huge music nerd, but my taste in music is pretty narrow. Now that I think about it, I really like specific, niche things in general (although I am glad that this doesn’t cover sports as I can always find my favorites on online bookies that often have promotions similar to the Kenyan bet365 Kenya bonus code). As far as music goes, I tend to like genres that are on the more alternative side of things: indie rock, alternative country and folk. When other people ask me what kind of music I like, they’re often surprised when they find out that the answer is “not much else.” But lately I’ve been trying to expand my horizons by listen to genres outside my comfort zone—and you should too! Here are a few ways you can do it.
Find an artist that’s popular within a genre you’ve never listened to
The goal is to find an artist that’s popular within the genre you want to try, but they haven’t quite gotten there yet. Then, listen to them and see if they catch your ear. If they do, then it’s time for step two!
Listen to a genre in context
Context is all around us and it’s important to listen to music in its natural habitat. This means looking at a genre of music as a whole, not just individual songs.
It can be difficult to get context when you’re new to a genre, but there are plenty of ways to find it. One way is by listening to playlists on Spotify that are specifically curated for the genre you want to explore (like this one). These playlists are usually organized by mood and intensity level so that you get an idea of what each song sounds like before diving in headfirst. Another great resource is YouTube; if your favorite artist has their own channel, you can usually find videos explaining what their songs mean and how they fit into the larger picture of the artist’s career (and even other artists’ careers).
Once you’ve got context down, go ahead and start exploring!
Give something new 20 seconds
As you start listening to music that’s outside of your comfort zone, it’s important to give new songs 20 seconds. That’s the amount of time it takes for a song to grab most people and pull them in. If you don’t like what you hear after those 20 seconds, move on! This is a great way to avoid wasting time on things that might not be your cup of tea.
If they do catch your attention, though—if the intro is compelling or it sounds like something else you love—listen all the way through! You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at how much more there is than what first drew you in.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you expand your musical horizons. Remember that you don’t have to like every song you listen to, but if the majority of songs in a genre are bad then it may be time to move on. Don’t stick with something just because it’s familiar or easy—try expanding your tastes!